Episode cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Avery Brooks | ... | Capt. Benjamin Sisko | |
Rene Auberjonois | ... | Odo | |
Michael Dorn | ... | Lt. Cmdr. Worf | |
Terry Farrell | ... | Lt. Cmdr. Jadzia Dax | |
Cirroc Lofton | ... | Jake Sisko (credit only) | |
Colm Meaney | ... | Chief Miles O'Brien | |
Armin Shimerman | ... | Quark | |
Alexander Siddig | ... | Doctor Bashir | |
Nana Visitor | ... | Major Kira | |
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Ellen Wheeler | ... | Ekoria |
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Dylan Haggerty | ... | Epran |
Michael Sarrazin | ... | Trevean | |
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Heide Margolis | ... | Norva |
Loren Lester | ... | Attendant | |
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Alan Echeverria | ... | Patient |
Bashir, Dax and Kira are on reconnaissance in the Gamma Quadrant when they receive a distress call from the Teplan system. The message says their world has been attacked. But, when Bashir and crew land, they find a world in a state similar to earth's dark ages, nor does it look like they'd been recently attacked. The people seem in a state of hopelessness, as Bashir finds out all the planet's inhabitants suffer from a disease called 'the blight.' Once, this world stood up to the Dominion, but as punishment they introduced the disease. All people have lesions, and when the disease runs its course ('quickened,' as they say) the infected die soon afterwards. The doctor's shocked to find the people turn to euthanasia when they have 'quickened'. A doctor, Trevean, provides a way out, and Bashir offers to help find a cure, but they're met only with skepticism. Only one pregnant woman, Ekoria, listens with interest. Written by Arnoud Tiele (imdb@tiele.nl)
When the Borg was the penultimate force of evil, at least their efforts were random. The Dominion, for whatever reason, exacts cruelty. They really have nothing to fear from the galaxy but when offended, "punish" those who offend them. They are anything but random. It would be like killing off all the cats in our world for no reason other than watching them die. Julian comes to a world where this ugly force has put a curse on the people. They contract a plague that they are born with, live with, and then die, Not in a simple way, but rather in agony. Bashir's efforts involve his best technology and it fails, until there is a ray of hope. This is an incredibly moving piece. For a kind of parallel, try reading or watching "Children of Men."